Means for operating switches and signals for draw-bridges



t 6 e h S s t 6 6 h S 2 N O S N H 0 J ,R C w H m d 0 M 0 Patented Apr. 19, 1887.

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.H. & C. R. JOHNSON. MEANS FOR OPERATING SWITCHES AND. SIGNALS FOR DRAW BRIDGES.

No. 361,420. Patented Apr. 19, 1887.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

HENRY JOHNSON, OF FLIXTON, COUNTY OF LANCASTER, ENGLAND, AND CHARLES R. JOHNSON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361,420, dated April 19, 1887.

Application filed July 14 1886. Serial No. 207,958. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HENRY JOHNSON, of Flixton, in the county of Lancaster, England, and CHARLES R. JOHNSON, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny'and State of Pennsylvania, both subjects of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Means for Operating Switches and Signals for Draw Bridges, of which the following is a specification.

Railroad draw-bridges are frequently worked on a central pin or pintle, the operator being on the draw or movable part of the bridge. It is desirable that he shall also operate throw-off or derailing switches and signals, or signals only,'on theland-approaches to the bridge for the safe working of traffic on the railroad.

Our invention relates to apparatus or mechanism by which the connections or transmitters of motion are broken or disjointed at the junction of the draw with the bridge-approach, so as to permit the draw to be readily turned without interference from the connections, and which connections or transmitters of motion are arranged so that when the draw is open the switches are held in their derailing position and the signalsin their stop or danger position.

Theinvention consists of novel combinations of parts, hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims, in a switch or signal system for a draw-bridge. In what we now consider its most desirable form our invention includes two pairs of abutting rack-bars or pushers, one pair being arranged upon the draw and the other pair upon the approach thereto, and the bars or pushers of each pair being so coupled by a pinion, or by a cross-piece and pivot, as

to move in reverse directions simultaneously,

whereby movement will be transmitted from one bar or pusher to the other when in line with the draw closed.

The invention also includesa locking device,

in combination with the pair of bars or pushers arranged upon the approach to the bridge, and which in the preparatory operations for opening the draw is thrown into engagement or allowed to come into engagement with one of the rack-bars or pushers, and thereby holds the pair of rack-bars or pushers which are on the approach immovable, and with the switch and signal in derailing and danger positions, after the pair of bars or pushers on the draw are retracted and during the time that the draw is open.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a drawbridge, including its approaches, with a double-track road and the signals and derailing-switches therefor. Fig.

2 is a sectional'elevation, on a larger scale, of the mechanism which is employed at each end of the draw and on the adjacent approach. Fig. 3 is a transverse section upon the plane of the dotted line a: m, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan of the mechanism which is to be employed at each end of the draw and the adjacent approach, and illustrates a modification of our invention, in which a pair of pushers formed at each end of a pivoted bar are sub stituted for apair of rack-bars shown in the previous figures. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the parts shown in Fig.- 5; and Fig. 7 is asectional elevation, corresponding to Fig. 2, ofthe mechanism employed upon the approach at each end of the draw, and which simply illustrates a modification of the locking device and means for operating it.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the, figures.

A designates the draw of the bridge, which is mounted to swing upon a central vertical pivot or pintle. and upon which is the switch and signal-operators cabin b.

B B designate the two approaches to the bridge.

0 O designate the two tracks of the railroad, which are provided with derailing-switohes a and'with signals d. r

e f designate, respective] y,the frontand back wires leading from the cabin b toward each end of the draw, as will be best understood from Fig. 2, and e'fdesignate thecorresponding wires which lead from the approach to the switch, switch-lock, and signals. Obviously, the wires 6 e and f f cannot be continuous, 93 because of the necessity of turning the draw, and at the adjacent ends of the draw and. approach we employ a disjointing mechanism, which we will now describe, reference being' had to Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

E F designate a pair of rack-bars which are arranged at the end of the draw, and are guided in a box or casing, G, in which is journaled a pinion, H, with opposite sides of which the two racks engage. Upon the adjacent end of the approach are a corresponding pair of rack-bars, E F, which are suitably guided in a box or casing, G, and engage with opposite sides of the pinion H, journaledin the box or casing.

When the draw is closed, the pair of rackbars E F are in line with and abut against the ends of the corresponding pair of rack-bars, E F, on the approach B. Before turning or opening the draw, the operator, by a suitable lever or other device, produces a pull upon the connection 6 and the rack-bar E in the direction of the arrow thereon in Fig. 2, and by the turning of the pinion H the other bar, F, of the pair and its wire connection f are moved in the direction of the arrow shown thereon or thrust ahead. The bar F, abutting against the end of the bar F, communicates its motion in the direction of the arrow to the bar F, and, by the turning of the pinion H, the bar E is caused to move in the direction of the arrow thereon, thereby following up the receding bar E and producing a pull upon theconnection e to shift theswitch cto a derailing position, and to shift the signals d to the danger position. The operator having thus properly set the switches and signals upon each approach, turns the draw, and the bars E F are thereby moved laterally away out of line with the bars E F. In order to avoid friction between the ends of the two pairs of rack-bars as the bars E F are swung laterally out of line with the bars E F, and also to prevent the bars E F from striking laterally against the end portions of the bars E F when the draw is again swunginto line with the approaches or closed, we mount the box or pinion-case G upon a base-plate, G along which it may be slid in a direction lengthwise of the rack-bars, and before opening the draw the operator, by means of a separate lever or wheel, or by other mechanism acting through the rod 1, draws back or retracts the box or pinion-case G and the rack-bars EF, which it contains. As soon as the bars E F are thus retracted from in front of the bars E F, the tension upon the connection e, which was necessary to move the switches and signals, might, if no means were employed to prevent, move the raclcbars E F and connections 0 f in reverse directions to those indicated by the ariows in Fig. 2, and thereby would move the signal or allow the signal to move to a safety position. In order to prevent this danger, we employ a locking device for engaging with one of the rack-bars E F, (the bar E, for example,) and which, as here shown, consists of a lever, h, pivoted at h and provided with a tooth, h, adapted to engage a rachet-rack, h upon the bar E. This lever h is provided with a weight, It, the normal tendency of which is to throw the tooth h into engagement with the ratchetteeth Ii. Connected at i with the bar or rod I, and forming an extension thereof, is a rod,l, having at the end a pin, t, engaging a cam-shaped slot, '5 in the end of the locking-lever h, and this slot 2' is so shaped that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, and in a condition to operate the switch and signal, the locking-lever h is held with its tooth it" out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth h.

The rod I has lost motion in its connection with the sliding box G,and, as here represented, this lost motion is provided for by a slot, i, in the rod engaging a pin, t, in the sliding plate on which the box Gis erected. The first movement, therefore, of the rod I in the direction of the arrow does not pull back the box G, but acts, through the rod or extension I, to withdraw the pin t" from the cam-slot i", and thereby raises the lever h, so that its lockingtooth it engages the ratchet-teeth h on the rack-bar E, and the weight It holds the locking-lever in such engaging position. As soon as the end of the slot i in the rod I reaches the'pin t, the sliding boxG will be drawn back and the bars E F thereby retracted from the bars E F, and then the draw may be turned, the signals being held in their danger position by the locking-lever It, which engaged the rackbar E before the bars E F were retracted. It is desirable, also, for greater security that the box G shall be locked against moving backward after the rod I commences its movement in the direction of the arrow and before the locking-lever h is in engagement with the ratchet-teeth It. This we accomplish by providing a locking bolt or catch,j, which slides in a hole through the sliding plate on which is the box G and engages a locking recess or hole,j, in the base-plate G The rod I also has a cam-like slot,j which receives through it a pin, on the bolt or catch j. \Vhen, therefore, the rod I is moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, it first acts to throw in the locking-lever h, then to lift or retract the bolt or catch j, and finally, when the end of the slot i reaches the pin 73', it draws back the sliding box G and rack-bars E F. After the draw has been opened and then again closed, the rod I is operated in a reverse direction to that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, and the boxG is slid forward, and as soon as it strikes the stop or shoulder 0 on the base-plate G the boltj, sliding upon the base-plate G reaches its notch or recess jand drops thereinto,thereby locking the box G against backward movement. This same movement of the rod I and rod-extension 1 causes the pin i to enter the cainslot t in the locking-lever, and thereby to withdraw the locking-lever h from engagement with the ratchet-teeth h as soon as the box G is locked in place.

Instead of the locking-lever It being provided with a cam-slot, i receiving a pin, 2', upon a rod-extension, I, the end of said rodextension I. might abut directly against the end ofa rod, 1, extending from a downwardlyprojecting arm, h on the locking-lever h, as

shown in Fig. 7, and the same result would thereby be secured, the rod 13 being properly guided in the fixed pinion'box G.

In lieu of employing the sliding pairs of rack-bars E F E F, we may employ pairs of pushers or heads E F E F, formed upon opposite ends of bars E F, which. are pivoted at 6 f so as to swing horizontally, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. or so as to swing vertically, if desired. .A pull upon the connection 6 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 5, would cause the pusher or head F. at the opposite end of the bar or lever E", to act upon the corresponding pusher or head, F, and thereby the remaining connections, 0', f, and f, will all be moved in the directionsindicated by the arrows in Fig. 5. The lever or bar E, carrying the pushers or heads E F, is pivoted to an arm projecting from the plate G, which corresponds to the pinion-box in Fig. 2, and slides in a channeled base-plate, G". This plate G2 is moved to retract it by the rod I, as reviously described, having lost motion provided by the slot 73 and the pin i in its connection with the plate G, and having an extension, I, for operating the locking lever h, which engages the ratchet teeth It upon the bar or lever F carrying the pushers or heads E F. The plate G is or may be locked against retraction by a bolt, j, arranged and opera ed as before described, all the letters of reference in Figs. 5 and 6 designating corresponding parts to those referred to by the same letters of reference in Figs 2, 3, and 4.

We have here represented a single pair of rack-bars or pushers at each end of the draw and a corresponding pair of bars or pushers on each approach. For some purposes a single bar or pusher on the draw might operate in connection with a corresponding bar or pusher on the approach, and where there are a number of switches or signals to be worked there may be two or more pairs of bars or pushers on each end of the draw and corresponding pairs of bars or pusher on each approach.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, i s-- 1. In a switch or signal system for a drawbridge, the combination, with a pair of rackbars or pushers arranged upon the draw and coupled together so that they will move in reverse directions simultaneously, of a switch or signal on the approach, devices on the approach upon which said bars or pushers may act when the draw isclosed, and operating mechanism on the draw for actuating said bars or pushers to transmit motion for operating the switch or signal on the approach, substantially as herein described.

2. In a switch or signal system for a drawbridge, the combination ot'two pairs of abutting rack-bars or pushers, one pair to be arranged upon the draw and the other upon the approach thereto, and the bars or pushers of each pair being so coupled as to move in reverse directions simultaneously, whereby movement will be transmitted from one pair to the other when in line with the draw closed, substantially as herein described.

3. In a switch or signal system for a drawbridge, the combination of two pairs of abutting rack-bars or pushers, one pair to be arranged upon the draw and the other pair upon the approach, the bars or pushers of each pair being so coupled as to move in reverse directions simultaneously, whereby motion will be transmitted from one pair to the other when in line with the draw closed, and a locking device for holding the pair of bars or pushers upon the approach against movement when the bars or pushers of the other pair are moved out of line therewith by the opening of the draw, substantially as herein described.

4. In a switch or signal system for a drawbridge, the combination of two pairs of abutting rack-ba'rs and their interposed pinions,

through which motion will be transmitted from the draw when the draw is closed, with the bars of one pair in line with those of the other pair, substantially as herein described.

5. The combination, with two pairs of abutting rack-bars or pushers, the bars or pushers of each pair being so coupled as to move in reverse directions simultaneously, ot' a locking device for preventing movement of the pair of bars or pushers for the approach, a sliding box or base supporting the pair of bars or pushers for the draw and by which the latter may be retracted before opening the draw, and a connection through which the locking device will be held out of operation when the draw is closed, and will be applied to lock the bars or pushers on the approach when the said sliding box or base is retracted preparatory to opening the draw, substantially as herein described.

6. The combination, with the fixed and sliding boxes G G and pinions H H, of the pairs of rack-bars E F E F, the bars of each pair engaging opposite sides of a pinion, and

connections for operating by tension only upon and by the rack-bars, substantially as herein described.

7. The combination, with pairs of abutting rack-bars or pushers for the draw and approach, those of each pair being coupled, as described, so as to move simultaneously in reverse directions, of a locking device for the approach bars or pushers, a sliding box or base for the draw-bars or pushers, a rod having lost motion in its connection with said box or base, and an extension for controlling the locking device of the approach bars or pushers,whereby the first movementof said rod in a direction to retract the said box or base will cause the engagement of said locking devicewith the approach bars or pushers before any movement is' transmitted-to the box or base, sub.- stantially as herein described.

8. The combination, with two pairs of abutting rack-bars or pushers, those of each pair being so coupled as to move in reverse directions simultaneously, of asliding box or base for supporting one pair of bars or pushers on the draw, a locking bolt or catch for holding with the sliding box, and an extension, I, for said box or base against movement, and a rod controlling the locking-lever, and a locking having lost motion in its connection with said bolt or catch for the sliding box, arranged to box 01' base and acting to withdraw the bolt or be withdrawn by the movement of the rod I catch prior to retracting said box or base, subbefore said rod acts to retract the said sliding stantially as herein described. I box, substantiallv as herein described. 9. The combination, with the pairs of abut- HENRY JOHNSON.

ting rack-bars E F E F and their interposed CHARLES R. JOHNSON. pinions H H, of the sliding and fixed boxes G G, locking-lever h, for the approach-bars, a rod, I, having lost motion in its connection Witnesses:

Gno. E. READ, WM. K. GRAY. 

